African-American Democrats form coalition to counter "disrespect" for black causes

BERKELEY • St. Louis County Council Chairwoman Hazel Erby (center) announces formation of Democratic Party coalition to counter "disrespect" of elected officials toward African American causes. Erby is flanked by Berkeley Mayor Theodore Hoskins (left) and State Rep. Courtney Curtis, D-73rd District (right).
Post-Dispatch Photo by David Carson

BERKELEY • A newly-formed coalition of African-American Democrats announced Wednesday they will not back any candidate that has exhibited “disrespect” for the black community on issues such as education, jobs and racial profiling.

Headed by St. Louis County Chairwoman Hazel Erby, D-1st District, the coalition – named for the late Mississippi civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer – pointedly withheld support for Steve Stenger, the Democratic candidate seeking the County Executive post in the November general election.

Brilliant question ... But unfortunately, this was a local effort, which I'm sure maintained their adopted tenants, however, this model should apply to a National campaign, if only we had such a vehicle.

As you well know, we have yet to coalesce on a national agenda.

Our Black Lives Matter movement continues to be at odds with established Black activists of long-standing. This is not a bad thing, it just shows our newness with political involvement, and our failure to see the importance of creating a "political block."

For example, younger Blacks are supporting Bernie Sanders in this election, while older Blacks, as well as the Mothers of those killed by police violence, support Hillary Clinton.

So, bottom line, we must become a monolith when it comes to political aspirations, and mount the kind of vehicle, let's say similar to the Brown/Latino voting block, to be successful, politically and have real impact.

So, bottom line, we must become a monolith when it comes to political aspirations, and mount the kind of vehicle, let's say similar to the Brown/Latino voting block, to be successful, politically and have real impact.

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Bro. Clyde, look at this article: The Monolithic African American Voting Block
Is the author saying that because the majority of Blacks are Democrats that we function as a voting block? He states that 96% of the African American vote went to Obama in 2008 and 93% in 2012. But is there something else we should be doing before we cast our vote--something that will have a significant impact that genuinely helps the Black community?

Bro. Clyde, look at this article: The Monolithic African American Voting Block
Is the author saying that because the majority of Blacks are Democrats that we function as a voting block? He states that 96% of the African American vote went to Obama in 2008 and 93% in 2012. But is there something else we should be doing before we cast our vote--something that will have a significant impact that genuinely helps the Black community?

To begin with, the site is full of pics of white girls called: Victory Girls ...

Does this blog make my butt look big?

And here's content in the article that shows a conservative pro republican approach, which should be held suspect:

"...There is a crack in the walls in this age of the internet though, and the Democrats know it, and in the style of the Great and Powerful Oz, they want you to pay no attention to the man behind the curtain; because it is becoming apparent that some of the “slaves” have got off the plantation and the Democrats can’t have that. Men Like Senator Tim Scott (who the Reverend was writing about), Dr. Ben Carson, Lt. Colonel Allen West, Dr. Thomas Sowell, Deroy Murdock and women like Mia Love (I do love her) are showing everyone in the country what it means to be a conservative and be black ..."​

And here's the very last paragraph in the article, which explains the agenda of the Blog:

"... I hope that it continues to change, because it will spell the end of the Democrat party as any thing other than an afterthought in the political process. I am glad to see the strength of these men and women who are fighting this very uphill battle ..."​

The purpose of the CBC should be to establish a national agenda; obviously, it has failed to influence Black voters in this regard, for we remain without a national platform on which to stand.

To the question:

"But is there something else we should be doing beforewe cast our vote"​

By all means, we should be having a conversation, hammering it out at the kitchen table and elsewhere, reaching a consensus solution on political issues before we vote.

For example, Eric Garner's daughter, should be in agreement with her Mother in support of Bernie Sanders rather than the Mother supporting Hillary Clinton as the presumptive nominee of the Democratic party, otherwise the "block" is divided.

So, rightly or wrongly, we would form a political block, thus having more power to get candidates to resolve our issues.

Last July, video footage of a traffic stop and violent arrest in Waller County, Texas, went viral, putting national attention on how black boys and men aren’t the only ones who die while in police custody. Now the tragic death of Sandra Bland, the 28-year-old black woman who was found dead in her jail cell three days after being pulled over, has helped catalyze the creation of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, the first caucus in U.S. history to focus on eliminating the inequalities and injustices threatening the well-being of black women ...

We do have to aid our new young black activists...and those who also new black leaders...I. e., hence is another reason I also believe Sandra Bland's death is a wake up call etc.

fyi

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We touch and agree, also, it was Trayvon Martin's death that started the wake up call, then Michael Brown's death kicked off the movement, and Sandra Bland's death made us stand up, never to sit down again, because Black Lives Matter.